Toilet flushing apparatus

ABSTRACT

In combination, a cistern and flushing apparatus, the cistern having an outlet ( 7 ), and the apparatus comprising a valve ( 3, 5 ) for closing the outlet, the valve having a seat ( 5 ) and a sealing member ( 3 ) movable onto and off the seat, an actuating float ( 1 ) constrained to move substantially vertically in the cistern and connected with the sealing member so that the buoyancy of the float acts to press the sealing member onto the seat, means ( 10 ) for holding the float against its buoyancy and an actuation mechanism ( 18, 18, 11 ) for releasing the float thereby to open the valve.

This invention relates to a toilet flushing apparatus and isparticularly concerned with such apparatus in combination with a cisternand having a dual flush capability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet flushingapparatus which is economical in its water usage and which mayselectively provide either a short flush or a long flush.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toilet thatcan be activated with minimal effort and when the cistern is not yetfull.

The present invention is, in combination, a cistern and flushingapparatus, the cistern having an outlet, and the apparatus comprising avalve for closing the outlet, the valve having a seat and a sealingmember movable onto and off the seat, an actuating float constrained tomove substantially vertically in the cistern and connected with thesealing member so that the buoyancy of the float acts to press thesealing member onto the seat, means for holding the float against itsbuoyancy and an actuation mechanism for releasing the float thereby toopen the valve.

The apparatus may also include a pre-overflowing warning device whichindicates to a user if the cistern over-fills even though no overflowingoccurs.

Embodiments of the apparatus may provide a system which, when activatedeven though the cistern is empty, will automatically discharge when thecistern fills to a preset level thus avoiding small quantities of waterbeing discharged when repeated attempts are made to actuate themechanism before the cistern is fully filled.

The present invention is also flushing apparatus which when fitted to acistern provides the combination defined in any of the last threepreceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through toilet flushing apparatusaccording to the present invention in a cistern;

FIG. 2 is a cross section to an enlarged scale of the flushing controlmechanism and pre-overflowing warning device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of part of a modified flushing controlmechanism showing how the controls can also be accessed through thecistern wall instead of through the cistern cover;

FIG. 4 shows a modified arrangement of the actuating floats and dualflush mechanisms;

FIG. 5 shows a second modified arrangement of the valve actuating float;

FIG. 6 shows a third modified arrangement of the valve actuating float;and

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a flushing mechanism according tothe present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, flushing apparatus accordingto the present invention is shown mounted in a cistern, and the force tolift open an outlet valve 3, 5 is provided by the buoyancy of anactuating float 1 having a lateral projection 1A, the float 1 beinglocated around and freely movable vertically on a telescopicallyadjustable overflow and valve actuating rod or tube 2. The tube 2carries at its lower end a valve sealing ring 3 in an annular holder,and a valve seat 5 is located around the cistern's outlet pipe 7.

When the cistern is filled to a preset level W, the actuating float 1 isprevented from rising by a linkage coupled with a control mechanism. Thelinkage has a body 4 with a detent 4A and lateral lever arms 4B and 4Cwhich are pivoted at respective pivots 4D. These arms convert the upwardbuoyancy force of the float to a downward force on the tube 2 pressingthe lower end thereof and the sealing ring 3 onto the seat 5 of thevalve, the seat 5 having multiple walls or grooves and being located onthe upper end of the outlet pipe 7.

The sealing ring 3 is, in this embodiment, of a chunky form and made ofa soft jelly rubber of high flexibility and elasticity, but could beformed as a cushion filled with a fluid or a gel so that the down forceof the actuating float on the seal forces the seal to deform to fit theshape of the multiple walled or grooved seat 5 to provide an enhancedseal even though there may be grit on the seat 5, or the seat may haveworn with the passage of time. The characteristics of the seal ensurethat it regains its original form every time it is off the seat 5.

The float I is constrained to move substantially vertically in thecistern by being housed in a cylindrical body 6 which is mounted on thetop of the outlet pipe 7 and is sealed at 7A with a clamp gland nut 7B.The body 6 is telescopically embraced by a jacket 8 to enable theflushing mechanism to be fitted to different configurations of cistern.The top of the jacket 8 has a tube extension 9A open at both ends and inwhich the linkage body 4 is slidingly located. A trigger mechanismcomprises a pin 10 coupled with a lever arm 11 and movable latterly outof the tube 9A when the lever arm 11 is rotated anticlockwise about itspivot 11 A thus releasing the body 4 to initiate the flush by liftingthe tube 2 and hence the sealing ring 3.

This operation, in more detail, is as follows: lateral withdrawal of thepin 10 allows the float 1 to raise the body 4 in the tube 9A. The float1 catches on detents 2A at the upper end of the tube 2 and this liftsthe tube 2 moving the valve sealing ring 3 from the seat 5 to open thevalve and permit flushing action. The arm 1A on the float 1 then movesand catches detent 15C or 15D of a lever 15 and the arm 1A is retainedin the upper position. The lever 15 is biased anticlockwise by a buoyantfloat end 15A and this thus holds the arm 1A engaged whilst the waterlevel in the cistern falls. When the water level in the cistern dropsbelow the float arm end 15A, the end 15A falls and releases the float 1which drops with the tube 2 and allows the sealing ring 3 to close theoutlet 7. At that moment the body 4 falls and allows the pin 10 to moveand reset. As the cistern refills, the float 1 rises to apply pressureto the arms 4D and 4C to force the tube 2 and seal 3 downward to sittight on the outlet seat 5 in readiness for the next operation. Thejacket 8 has a vertical side rail 12 along which slides a second float14 which has a projection 14A and screws 14C and 14D, the projection andscrews being vertically adjustable thus to preset the apparatus todischarge specific volumes of water. The float 14 rises and falls withthe water level in the cistern.

The lever arm 15 is pivoted within the rail 12 and has the two steppeddetents 15C and 15D. The detent 15C forms the short flush latch and thedetent 15D forms the long flush latch. When on the detent 15C the uppertip of the lever arm 15 projects out of the rail 12 as shown at A inFIG. 1. Arm 1A is released by the float 14 falling when the tip of leverarm 15 is contacted by the projection 14A which moves the tip of thelever arm 15 against the buoyancy of the float end 15A thus allowing thefloat 1 and the tube 2 with the sealing ring 3 to drop and close theoutlet 7. When on the detent 15D the tip of the lever arm 15 is fullywithin the rail 12 and is not contacted by the falling float 14 and thusthe cistern discharges until the weight of the float 14 is applied onthe an end 15A as at B in FIG. 1. Arm, 15 when released from projection1A, slides through the duct 14B within the float 14.

It will be appreciated that the buoyancy of the arm end 15A issufficient to hold the projection 1A but insufficient to prevent releasethrough contact with the falling float 14.

Actuation of the flush is effected by the tipping of a lever 18 as canbe best seen at C and D in FIG. 2. The lever 18 when tipped contacts andforces a lever 17 also to tip and disengage from the lever 11 as seen inbroken lines. For the short flush, the lever 18 is tipped clockwise andthe lower end of a lever 16 is biased inwardly to engage the detent 4Ain body 4 thus restricting the rise of the body 4 and the float 1 suchthat the projection 1A on the float engages only the detent 15C in thearm 15. For the long flush, the body 4 is allowed to rise fully as thelever 18 is tipped anticlockwise to contact 16A forcing the lever 16 torotate clockwise so that it cannot engage the detent 4A thus allowingthe projection 1A of the float 1 to rise further to engage the detentcatch 15D of arm 15 whereby the tip of arm 15 will not be contacted bythe falling float 14 thus enabling a long flush discharging the cisternto a preset level. The actuating mechanism is biased to reset topre-actuation position once the flush action permits.

In normal operation and after flush action lever 11 biases the pin 10 toreengage when body 4 falls with float 1 and tube 2. This is by virtue ofthe float 14 falling, this falling action being assured by reservoirsincorporated in the floats and 14. If the flush lever 18 is actuatedbefore the cistern has refilled then the arm 11 is not locked and willbe activated by the rising float 14 thus withdrawing the pin 10 to flushthe cistern again when the water level has risen sufficiently. This iseffected by a toggle action whereby a flush cannot be initiated untilthe float 1 has been reset and the cistern refilled. If the flush lever18 is actuated before filling, then flushing is automatically initiatedon the lifting of the lever 11 by the float 14, otherwise the lever 11is held in the position shown. This is achieved by a latch system 19engaging a foot 18A of lever 18 when tipped, as best shown at C and D inFIG. 2. The latch system allows the lever 11 to lift thus withdrawingthe pin 10 when the float rises to a specific level providing a flush.This latch action occurs until the body 4 enters the tube 9 oninitiation of the flush in order to reset the arrangement. If lever 18has not previously been activated then lever 11 is held and no actionoccurs on the float 14 rising.

If the cistern overfills to a level above the preset one, the actuatingcontrol is rendered inoperative by an end 20A on lever 20 locking into agroove 17A of the lever 17 as a result of the float 20C rising above thedesired water level W. This inability to flush in the normal wayindicates to a user that there is an inlet valve malfunction requiringattention. In these circumstances, to initiate a flush a user will haveto depress button 20B and thus lever 20 and float 20C as well as tippingthe lever 18. The inconvenience of having to activate an additionalmechanism may prompt a user to take action and reset the inlet valve,therefore saving valuable water.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a flushing apparatus similar tothat of FIGS. 1 and 2 but modified to be activated by a rotatable shaftmounted through the cistern wall. Provided is a shaft (not shown) whichcouples to a weight 21 at 21 A. The weight is such that it biases theshaft to a neutral position as shown and is linked to one end of a lever22 of which the other end is connected to the lower end of the lever 18.Rotation of the shaft will move lever 22 laterally to the right or theleft thus activating lever 18 to initiate the flush, clockwise rotationgiving the short flush and anticlockwise rotation giving the long flush.The weight 21 biases the lever 22 to its pre-actuation position onceflushing action permits.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown a modified arrangement of theactuating floats and dual flush mechanism in which the float 14 islocated around and is freely movable vertically on the overflow andvalve actuating tube 23 which is movable as in FIG. 1 and is supportedby a low frame 24 mounted on the outlet pipe 7. In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, the actuating mechanism (not shown) can be mounted to dependfrom the cistern cover instead of being fixed on the jacket 8 and can beone of or similar to those shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Also in FIG. 4 embodiment, the projection 1A projects from the holder ofthe seal 3 so that the float 1 is free to drop with the water level andthe short flush ends when the tip of a lever 15 is contacted by the knob14A which is fitted to any one of a plurality of holes located on float1 rather than on float 14. For the long flush the tip of the lever 15 isnot contacted by knob 14A and the flush action ends when the water levelfalls below buoyant end 15A which is larger and provided with reservoirsto ensure that is heavy and falls to disengage detent 15D fromprojection 1A thus the actuating tube 2 and sealing ring 3 drop to sealthe outlet 7.

FIG. 5 shows in detail a second modified arrangement of the valveactuating float which differs from those shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 inthat the actuating float 25 fits to one end 26 of the crank arm 26Awhich is mounted on a locking pivot to one end 27 of secondary arm 27Apivot at 27D and held at 27C by trigger pin 10.

The operation of the FIG. 5 embodiment is as follows: clockwise andupward force of the actuating float 25 is transferred downward by armend 26A onto the actuating tube 28 and thereon the seal 3 and seat 5,and on actuation of the controls the trigger pin 10 disengages from armtip 27C and at that moment the float 25 and arm 27A are free to continueclockwise and upward rotation engaging detent 28A therefore lifting thevalve open.

FIG. 6 shows a third modification of the actuating float mounted onpivoted arms as in FIG. 5, and differs in that the float 25 arms 26A,27A pivot on a frame 30 which in turn is pivoted at 31 on a lug 32 andprovides support to the seal 3 at 31 a. Thus the pivoting frame 32 opensthe valve.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7 all moving parts are submerged thusminimising the possibility of malfunctions brought about by the build upof minerals which normally occurs around or above the waterline W.

The actuating float 40 is fitted to a lever 41 which pivots on one endof a three part linkage comprising arms 42, 43 and 44, the other end ofthe linkage being pivotally mounted on the valve supporting frame 45.Trigger 46 pivots at 47 and catches on one of the arm pivot pins 48, sothat the lifting force of the float 40 is transferred downward and ontothe seal 49, such a force is transferred downward by the knob 51A onwall 51 which embodies a projection at 51B and at the blind side 51C(not shown) and is vertically movable and supports the seal holder 52.The initiating float 50 is fined to a lever 54 which is verticallymovable and adjustable having a detent at 55 and at 56. Flush latch 57pivots at 58 and catches at detent 55 inhibiting the float 50 fromlifting and when activated by lifting at 57A it will determine the shortflush. A secondary flush latch 59 is provided, this determine the longflush and is pivoted at 59A and has a projection at 59B and 59C and whenactivated projection 59C will interact with and activate flush latch 57.The valve is maintained at the open position for the duration of theflush by a pair of buoyant latches 60 and/or 61. Latch 60 supports avertically adjustable float 62 and is pivoted at 60A and when active tip60B will engage with projection 51 C. Latch 61 also supports anadjustable float 63 and is pivoted at 61A and tip 61B engages withprojection 51B when active.

A vertically sliding catch 64 provides the opportunity to activate theflush when the cistern is still empty. When latch 57 is activated catch64 falls into a groove 57B detaining 57 in the activated position untilthe cistern fills and the flush is initiated by the rising of float 50,catch 64 will also when activated detained latch 59 in the activatedposition until the flush is initiated as above.

In this embodiment the seal 49 shown at A, FIG. 7, has thecharacteristics as explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, butdiffers in that it is a disc rather than a ring and is supported by aring 52. The ring 52 has a cover 53 with openings 53A which ensure thatthe water pressure forces it to deform from within as shown at B in FIG.7, thus providing further protection against leakage.

The operation is as follows. Actuation of the flush latch 57 and/or 59will set the arm free so that the float regains the upper lifting forceand opens the valve. The valve is opened due to the activation of theflush latch 57 and once the valve is open float 62 forces tip 60B toengage with projections 51C therefore the short flush is discharged.Actuation of the flush latch 59 will allow tip 61B to engage projection51B which otherwise remains inoperative interacted by projection 59B andwill remain engaged until the water drops below the float 63, thereforethe long flush is discharged.

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination, a cistern and flushing apparatus, the cistern having an outlet, and the apparatus comprising a valve for closing the outlet, the valve having a seat and a sealing member movable onto and off the seat, an actuation float constrained to move substantially vertically in the cistern and connected with the sealing member so that the bouyancy of the float acts to press the sealing member onto the seat, means for holding the float against its buoyancy and an actuation mechanism for releasing the float thereby to open the valve.
 2. The combination as claimed in clam 1, in which the float is connected with the sealing member through arms pivotally mounted on a body connected with the sealing member.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, in which the body is located above the float and the sealing member is located beneath the float.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim
 3. in which the body is connected to the sealing member by a rod passing through the float, the rod having at an upper end detents engageable with the float.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 2, in which said means for holding the float against its buoyancy comprising a member limiting the vertical movement of said body.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 5, in which the member is movable transversely into and out of the path of movement of the body.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 6, including an actuating mechanism for moving the member, actuating mechcanism including a pivoted lever in engagement with said member and a second float engageable with an end of said lever to rotate the lever about its pivot and move the member out of the path of the body.
 8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, including a trigger mechanism for releasing the lever for rotation.
 9. The combination as claimed in claim 8, in which the trigger mechanism includes a rotatable shaft having a central rotational position to which it is biased, rotation of the shaft in one direction from the central position causing a long flush, and rotation of the shaft in the other direction causing a short flush.
 10. The combination as claimed in claim 8, in which the body is connected to the sealing member by a rod passing through the float, the rod having at an upper end detents engageable with the float, and in which the trigger mechanism limits the movement of the rod to a selected one of a plurality of positions which determine the length of the flush.
 11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, including a buoyant lever arm engageable with the actuating float to hold the float and the rod in the selected position, and engageable with the second float to release the actuating float and terminate the flush.
 12. The combination as claimed in claim 10, including a third float having a member therein which interferes with the operation of the trigger mechanism when the water level in the cistern is too high.
 13. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the valve seat has multiple grooves or walls.
 14. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the sealing member is made of a soft rubber of high flexibility and elasticity.
 15. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the sealing member is a cushion filled wit a fluid or gel.
 16. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the sealing member is a disc with one face which engages the seat, the other ace being open to the pressure of water in the cistern. 